Mount Holly's Way of the Cross Baptist Church Treasurer & Secretary Embezzled Over $360,000

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. -- Mount Holly's Way of the Cross Baptist Church held its first Sunday service this weekend since the former members accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars appeared in court.

"It's about like starting all over. God's given us a new beginning," Way of the Cross pastor, the Rev. Bobby Meeks, said.

The church’s former treasurer and secretary, Alan and Linda Roland, appeared in a Gaston County courtroom last week. Over the years, detectives say they embezzled more than $360,000 from the church bank account.

"We found out we didn't have but $1,700, and it was a shock to all of us," said Meeks.

Church leaders had very little to say about the case Sunday except that the focus was on the worship service, one in which Meeks talked about forgiveness.

"I talked to them and just said, ‘just try to love each other and bring unity back in the church,’" he said.

Meeks says his congregation is already in the process of replenishing the money that was taken. He says the ladies of the church raised more than $2,000 through several yard sales and they plan to hold other fundraisers to restore the church account.

IRS Announces Deadline for Tax Exemption Revocations

The IRS has finally announced its decision regarding the extension it promised to small charities facing the loss of tax exemption due to not filing Form 990N. Now, small nonprofits have until October 15, 2010 to file Form 990N and preserve their status. The IRS is calling this a one-time offer, so organizations that miss the new, extended deadline will be out of luck. The IRS plans to announce the list of organizations removed from Publication 78 (the definitive list of recognized, tax-exempt organizations) sometime in early 2011. Donors giving to such organizations will be sheltered until the list is published.

For those organizations under the same threat, but needing to file Form 990EZ, they will also get an extension to October 15, but will face a financial penalty.